Latest news with #SagkeengFirstNation
CTV News
14-07-2025
- CTV News
Inquest called into Manitoba inmate death in 2021
William Walter Ahmo (pictured) a member of the Sagkeeng First Nation and an inmate at the Headingley Correctional Centre, died Feb. 14, 2021 following an incident with correction officers.(Submitted: Darlene Ahmo)
Winnipeg Free Press
14-07-2025
- Winnipeg Free Press
Inquest called into inmate's death, months after guard acquitted
Manitoba's chief medical examiner has called an inquest into a fatal incident that led to a jail guard being tried and acquitted of criminal charges. The inquest will try to determine the circumstances regarding the death of Headingley Correctional Centre inmate William Ahmo in 2021. He died in hospital on Feb. 14. On Feb. 7, the Sagkeeng First Nation man was shackled, pinned to the ground, placed in a spit hood and strapped into a restraint chair in the common area of his unit after a standoff with jail guards. SUPPLIED Will Ahmo with his son Emory. Ahmo died inside Headingley Correctional Institution on February 7, 2021. Ahmo, 45, died in hospital on Feb. 14, 2021. Seven days earlier, the Sagkeeng First Nation man was shackled, pinned to the ground, placed in a spit hood and strapped into a restraint chair in the common area of his unit after a three-hour standoff with guards at the Headingley Correctional Centre. The chief medical examiner deemed Ahmo's death a homicide. He died from a brain injury caused by a heart attack as he struggled to breathe, court heard at the trial of Robert Jeffrey Morden. Morden, who led the tactical team that responded to the standoff, pleaded not guilty to criminal negligence causing death and failing to provide the necessities of life. He was acquitted last September. A lawsuit filed on behalf of Ahmo's mother in February 2023 alleges the provincial government and jail guards were negligent and breached their duty of care for the inmate, among other claims of mistreatment and racism. The government has yet to respond in civil court. Tuesdays A weekly look at politics close to home and around the world. Five other inquests announced Monday involve Stony Mountain Institution inmates who hanged themselves in their cells between March and December of 2020. Another involves a Stony inmate deemed to have died from an accidental drug overdose in November 2021. fpcity@
CBC
24-06-2025
- Business
- CBC
Treaty 1 First Nations leaders say gas bar at Naawi-Oodena will bring 'a brighter economic future'
Treaty One First Nations leaders say the new gas bar at the Naawi-Oodena development will lead to "a brighter economic future for our people," creating jobs and business opportunities at the former Kapyong Barracks site in Winnipeg. On Monday, Treaty One Development Corp. held a soft opening event for the Oodena Gas & Convenience filling station. It is set to open to the public on June 30, operating every day for 24 hours a day. "It's a symbol of hope. It's a symbol of progress. It's a symbol of a brighter economic future for our people," said Sagkeeng First Nation Chief E.J. Fontaine, who is the development company's president. The gas bar is the first business to open on the Naawi-Oodena lands, a 64-hectare area that became the largest urban reserve in Canada in 2022, when the lands were repatriated to the seven Treaty One First Nations: Brokenhead Ojibway Nation, Long Plain First Nation, Peguis First Nation, Roseau River Anishinabe First Nation, Sagkeeng First Nation, Sandy Bay Ojibway First Nation and Swan Lake First Nation. Fontaine said the developer recently got approval to start building a nine-storey, 260-unit apartment complex in the area. It will soon start work on a more than 1,300 square-metre retail space, he said. When completed, Naawi-Oodena — which translates to "centre of the heart and community" in Anishinaabemowin — will become Canada's largest Indigenous urban economic zone, with residential units, retail spaces, restaurants and a health hub. According to a Treaty One news release, the gas station has hired 25 staff members, with all but one being First Nations members. The vast majority of staff are from Treaty One First Nations. "The gas bar is the start of something much bigger. It's the start of an economic development that's going to have economic spin-off benefits, not only for our people, but for the entire city, the entire province," Fontaine said. The filling station is located at 1871 Taylor Ave., a nod to the year Treaty One was officially signed. Brokenhead Chief Gord Bluesky, who is also the Treaty One Nations chairperson, said Treaty One leaders have worked for two decades to see this land repatriated. Establishing the Naawi-Oodena development's first business at 1871 Taylor Ave. shows "these things are meant to be," Bluesky said. "I'm just proud to be standing here, along with my fellow leadership, here to acknowledge the hard work that the staff has done, but also the past and present leadership, the work they've done to get us to this point," he said. The land along Kenaston Boulevard had been vacant since the 2nd Battalion, Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry, left the barracks in 2004 and moved to a base near Brandon. Dennis Meeches, former chief with Long Plain First Nation, was among the leaders who initiated the two-decade-long land claim battle. On Monday, Meeches pumped gas at the Oodena station for the first time. "It's a real blessing that we're finally here after a long drawn-out journey," he said. "I think now that we're here, people will see the true benefit of what this urban reserve will bring to the city, the province and the country." Oodena Gas & Convenience opens to the public next week. A grand opening and ribbon cutting ceremony is set for July 25 to kick off the annual Anishinaabe Days event, with free food and cultural activities. Urban reserve marks historic milestone 20 years in the making 2 hours ago Duration 2:00 Naawi-Oodena is opening its first business along Taylor Avenue in Winnipeg. This is the first step in transforming the area into an economic hub led by seven First Nation communities.
Winnipeg Free Press
23-06-2025
- Business
- Winnipeg Free Press
Opening day nears for south Winnipeg development Naawi-Oodena's first business
The first retail venture in the Naawi-Oodena urban economic development zone in south Winnipeg is fuelling up for opening day. Oodena Gas & Convenience will open to the public June 30. Representatives from the Treaty One Development Corp. held a soft opening event for the gas bar, located at 1871 Taylor Ave., on Monday. 'It's really exciting to finally be able to open up a business here,' said T1DC president and Sagkeeng First Nation Chief E.J. Fontaine. 'This is just the start.' MIKE DEAL / FREE PRESS Several guests and dignitaries get their photo taken at the soft opening of Oodena Gas & Convenience Monday, the very first business to open in south Winnipeg's Naawi-Oodena urban economic development zone. Naawi-Oodena, which means 'centre of the heart' or 'centre of our community,' is planned to eventually become a $1 billion-plus development across 109 acres of the former Kapyong barracks. It's owned by the seven First Nations who were signatories to Treaty 1 (in 1871), under the T1DC banner. T1DC chose to build Oodena Gas & Convenience first because many First Nations have experience developing gas bars and it's 'an easy win,' Fontaine said. 'We needed to get some cash flow into the development corporation,' he said. 'Now that (the gas bar is almost) open, we're really pleased with it. It's a nice store.' Ultimately, for Treaty 1 members, it's more than a gas bar, Fontaine said: it's the first step in transforming Naawi-Oodena into a vibrant economic hub. 'To us, it's a symbol of progress.' 'It's really exciting to finally be able to open up a business here … This is just the start.'–Sagkeeng First Nation Chief E.J. Fontaine Naawi-Oodena is the result of years of hard work by former and current First Nations leaders, noted Brokenhead Ojibway Chief Gordon BlueSky. The Treaty One Nations chairperson recalled attending a public discussion around a decade ago, at which some attendees voiced their uncertainty about the business park. 'I've seen that attitude change quite drastically,' BlueSky said. 'I think people are starting to understand here that First Nation prosperity isn't something to be fearful of. We've lived in oppression for far too long.' Naawi-Oodena allows First Nations people to shape how the land is used, how it generates income and how it serves the community, according to BlueSky. The gas bar is 'a very exciting first step for our nations and Treaty 1 community.' The internal design team that worked on the 2,450-square-foot gas bar wanted it to be an inviting space, said Ashley Peebles, Treaty One Nations design and development planner. The team incorporated wood elements to give the store warmth and signage is posted in the Anishinaabemowin language and English. MIKE DEAL / FREE PRESS From left, Chief David Meeches, Long Plain First Nation, Chief E.J. Fontaine Sagkeeng First Nation, Chief Trevor Prince, Sandy Bay Ojibway First Nation, Chief Gordon Bluesky, Brokenhead Ojibway Nation, and AMC Grand Chief Kyra Wilson inside the Oodena Gas & Convenience, Monday. A giant upside-down V frames the building's front entrance. 'It was meant to be a teepee, but also it could signify an arrow pointing up — pointing towards the sky, pointing north,' Peebles said. 'It's kind of open for interpretation.' Among the usual fare customers expect in a convenience store, Oodena carries a variety of products made in Manitoba. 'We have your typical Coke and Pepsi products … but we really want to push a lot of local and Indigenous-owned stuff here,' said Tyrell Courchene, store manager. Courchene added he's 'a bit nervous' about the gas bar's upcoming opening, but he's confident things will go well. Monday Mornings The latest local business news and a lookahead to the coming week. 'It's exciting,' he said. 'We've got a good location here (and) we've got a good crew of people.' Twenty-five employees have been hired to support the store's operations, including two full-time supervisors. Per a news release, 96 per cent of the employees are First Nations members and 84 per cent are members of one of the seven Treaty 1 First Nations. The gas bar will be open daily from 7 a.m. to midnight to start, Courchene said, eventually moving to being open 24 hours a day, seven days a week. A grand opening and ribbon-cutting ceremony is planned for July 25, and will kick off the fourth annual Anishinaabe Days event at Naawi-Oodena. The grand opening is open to the public and will include free food, cultural programming and voucher giveaways. MIKE DEAL / FREE PRESS Treaty One leadership were on hand for the Soft Opening of Oodena Gas & Convenience, the very first business to open on Naawi-Oodena — a long-awaited development which has been over 20 years in the making. In the meantime, the first Naawi‑Oodena Seasonal Market will start operating Tuesday and continue bi-weekly on Tuesdays through the end of September. The market is designed to support Indigenous entrepreneurs and artisans by offering a consistent venue for commerce and community engagement on the Naawi‑Oodena lands. Market hours are 4 p.m. to 8 p.m., and a selection of food trucks will be on site. Spending money at Indigenous businesses is a great way for the average Manitoban to practice reconciliation, BlueSky said. 'It's coming into our businesses (and) it's spending money in our facilities,' he said. 'The biggest step I believe is just supporting us.' T1DC and federal Crown corporation Canada Lands Co. are working together to develop Naawi‑Oodena. Treaty 1 First Nations are responsible for the development of 68 per cent of the land, which will be primarily commercial and institutional development. Canada Lands has the remaining 32 per cent, which will be primarily residential development. Aaron EppReporter Aaron Epp reports on business for the Free Press. After freelancing for the paper for a decade, he joined the staff full-time in 2024. He was previously the associate editor at Canadian Mennonite. Read more about Aaron. Our newsroom depends on a growing audience of readers to power our journalism. If you are not a paid reader, please consider becoming a subscriber. Our newsroom depends on its audience of readers to power our journalism. Thank you for your support.
CBC
24-03-2025
- Health
- CBC
Southern Chiefs' Organization invests $1.5M in holistic wellness initiative
Social Sharing The Southern Chiefs' Organization has launched a holistic health-care initiative that it says will centre on the teachings of the Anishinaabe and Dakota Nations of southern Manitoba. The Healthy Living campaign will contribute to the health of nearly three dozen nations the organization represents, by promoting the physical wellness of youth through basketball, healthy eating through garden competitions, language classes and a First Nation youth drum group, according to a Monday news release from the SCO. "The 11-year life-expectancy gap is a trend that's not reversing, it's actually getting worse … we really need to put a lot of focus into our health care," Daniels told reporters later at a news conference on Monday. "We want to highlight the challenges that we're seeing with diabetes. We want to get our young people moving. We want to get that relationship with our food made a priority — knowledge, our culture, our languages." About two-thirds of the $1.5 million in funding will back young basketball players participating in the revival of the Manitoba Indigenous Summer Games in Sagkeeng from August 17-23. E.J. Fontaine, chief of Sagkeeng First Nation, told reporters it will be the first time the Games will be held following a 10-year hiatus, and 4,000 athletes, spectators, parents and officials are expected to attend. "We put together a bid and we proposed to the Manitoba Aboriginal Sports and Recreation Centre to revive the Games, and we were successful in securing the bid along with Norway House," Fontaine said. "It's very important that we're having the Games revived in our communities because we have to give our kids an alternative path to living." Fontaine says the Games are the physical health part of the four-directions teachings given to him as a young man by an elder: healthy body, healthy soul, healthy mind and healthy spirit. "I followed that, and when I was 22 years old, I was able to change my life around from being addicted to drugs and alcohol. And I'm really happy that I followed the advice of the elder," Fontaine said. "It's only through sports and recreation that we're going to steer our kids, our youth, in the right path, away from some of the drug problems we have in our community." Another $100,000 of funding will go to support summer basketball camps for youth in the 32 Anishinaabe and Dakota Nations that SCO represents. Themes of wellness The health campaign focuses on seven themes of wellness as medicine: food, water, movement, community, land, knowledge and culture. As part of the cultural prong of health, a youth drum group will receive $100,000 to aid in the dissemination of songs and dances to young people, with $300,000 put toward language classes in several SCO communities. Food and the relationship to food will be encouraged through a garden competitions, Daniels says, as a way to spotlight the work already being done in First Nations communities. "We've really wanted to promote healthy eating and the relationship with our food … we want to really push for gardening within the schools … change our eating behaviours and really highlight that among our young people," Daniels said. Willie Moore, the Assembly of First Nations regional chief representing Manitoba, says children in the province have the highest rate of Type 2 diabetes in the world, with 85 per cent being Indigenous. Moore says it's been 20 years since the Aboriginal Diabetes Initiative, a Health Canada program, last saw a funding increase.
